I R John Falstaff. Fenton, a young Gentleman of Small Fortune, in Love with Mrs. Anne Page. Shallow, a Country Justice. Slender, Cousin to Shallow, a foolish Country Squire. Mr. Page, Mr. Ford, } two Gentlemen, dwelling at Windfor. Sir Hugh Evans, a Welch Parfon. Dr. Caius, a French Doctor. Host of the Garter, a merry talking Fellow, Bardolph, Pistol, } Sharpers attending on Falstaff. Nym, Robin, Page to Falstaff. William Page, a Boy, Son to Mr. Page. Simple, Servant to Slender. Rugby, Servant to Dr. Caius. Mrs. Page, Wife to Mr. Page. Mrs. Ford, Wife to Mr. Ford Mrs. Anne Page, Daughter to Mr. Page, in Love with Fenton. THE Merry Wives of Windfor. ACTI. SCENE I Enter Justice Shallow, Slender, and Sir Hugh Evans. S SHALLOW. IR Hugh, perfuade me not; I will make a Star-Chamber Matter of it: If he were twenty Sir John Falstaffs, he fhall not abuse Røbert Shallow, Esq; Slen. In the County of Glocefter, Juftice of Peace, and Coram. Shal. Ay, Coufin Slender, and Custalorum. Slen. Ay, and Rato-lorum too; and a Gentleman born, Mafter Parfon, who writes himfelf Armigero, in any Bill, Warrant, Quittance, or Obligation, Armigero. Shal. Ay that I do, and have done any time these three hundred Years. Sen. All his Succeffors, gone before him, have don't; and all his Ancestors, that come after him, may; they may give the dozen white Luces in their Coat. Shal. It is an old Coat. Eva. The dozen white Lowfes do become an old Coat well; it agrees well Paffant; it is a familiar Beaft to Man, and fignifies Love. Shal. The Luce is the Frefh fift, the Salt-fish is an old Coat. Slen. Slen. I may quarter, Coz. Shal. You may, by marrying. Eva. It is marring indeed, if he quarter it. Eva. Yes per-lady; if he has a quarter of your Coat, there is but three Skirts for your felf, in my fimple Conjectures; but that is all one : If Sir John Falstaff have committed Difparagements unto you, I am of the Church, and will be glad to do my Benevolence, to make Atonements and Compremises between you. Shal. The Council fhall hear it; it is a Riot. Eva. It is not meet the Council hear of a Riot; there is no Fear of Got in a Riot: The Council, look you, fhall defire to hear the Fear of Got, and not to hear a Riot; take you viza-ments in that. Shal. Ha; o'my Life, if I were young again, the Sword fhould end it. Eva. It is petter that Friends is the Sword, and end it; and there is also another Device in my Prain, which perad venture prings good Discretions with it: There is Anne Page, which is Daughter to Mafter Thomas Page, which is pretty Virginity. Slen. Mistress Anne Page? she has brown Hair, and speaks like a Woman. Eva. Is it that ferry Perfon for all the Orld, as just as you will defire; and feven hundred Pounds of Monies, and Gold, and Silver, is her Grand-fire upon his Deaths-bed (Got deliver to a joyful Resurrections) give, when she is a ble to overtake feventeen Years old: It were a good Motion, if we leave our pribbles and prabbles, and defire aMarriage between Mafter Abraham, and Miftrefs Anne Page. Slen. Did her Grand-fire leave her feven hundred pound? Eva. Ay, and her Father is make her a petter Penny. Slen. I know the young Gentlewoman; fhe has good Gifts. Eva. Seven hundred Pounds, and poffibility is goot Gifts. Shal. Well; let us fee honeft Mr. Page: Is Falstaff there? Eva. Shall I tell you a Lie? I do defpife a Liar as I do defpife one that is falfe; or as I defpife one that is not true. The Knight, Sir John, is there; and I befeech you be ruled by your Well-wishers. I will peat the Door [Knocks] for Mafter Page. What hoa? Got blefs your Houle here. Enter Mr. Page. Page. Who's there? Eva. Here is Got's pleffing, and your Friend, and Juftice Shallow; and here's young Mafter Slender; that peradventures fhall tell you another Tale, if matters grow co your likings. Page. I am glad to fee your Worship's well: I thank for my Venifon, Mafter Shallow. you Shal. Mafter Page, I am glad to fee you; much good do it your good Heart: I wifh'd your Venifon better; it was ill kill'd. How doth good Miftrefs Page? And I thank you always with my Heart, la; with my Heart. Page. Sir, I thank you. Shal. Sir, I thank you; by yea and no I do. Page. I am glad to fee you, good Master Slender. Slen. How do's your fallow Greyhound, Sir? I heard fay, he was out-run on Cotfale. Page. It could not be judg'd, Sir. Slen. You'll not confefs, you'll not confefs. Shal. That he will not, 'tis your fault, 'tis your fault; 'tis a good Dog. Page. A Cur, Sir. Shal. Sir, he's a good Dog, and a fair Dog; can there be more faid? He is good and fair. Is Sir John Falstaff here? Page. Sir, he is within; and I would I could do a good Office between you. Eva. It is fpoke as a Chriftians ought to speak. Shal. He hath wrong'd me, Mafter Page. Page. Sir, he doth in fome fort confefs it. Shal. If it be confefs'd, it is not redrefs'd; is not that so, Mr. Page? He hath wrong'd me, indeed he hath, at a word he hath, believe me, Robert Shallow, Efquire, faith, he is wrong'd. Page. Here comes Sir John. Enter Enter Sir John Falstaff, Bardolph, Nym and Pistol. Fal. Now, Mafter Shallow, you'll complain of me to the King? X Shal. Knight, you have beaten my Men, kill'd my Deer, and broke open my Lodge. Fal. But not kifs'd your Keeper's Daughter. Shal. Tut, a pin; this fhall be anfwer'd. Fal. I will anfwer it ftraight: I have done all this. That is now answer'd. Shal. The Council fhal know this. Fal. 'Twere better for you if it were known in Council; You'll be laugh'd at. Eva. Pauca verba, Sir John, good Worts. Fal. Good Worts? Good Cabage. Slender, I broke your Head: What Matter have you against me? Slen. Marry Sir, I have Matter in my Head against you, and against your Cony-catching Rafcals, Bardolph, Nym and Piftol. Bar. You Banbury Cheese. Slen. Ay, it is no matter. Pift. How now, Mephoftophilus? Nym. Slice, I fay, pauca, pauca: Slice, that's my Hus mour. Slen. Where's Simple, my Man? Can you tell, Coufin? Eva. Peace, I pray you: Now let us understand; there is three Umpires in this matter, as I understand; that is, Mafter Page, fidelicet, Mafter Page; and there is my felf, fidelicet, my felf; and the three Party is, laftly, and finally, mine Hoft of the Garter. Mr. Page. We three to hear it, and end it between themEva. Ferry goot; I will make a Prief of it in my Note book, and we will afterwards orke upon the Cause with as great difcreetly as we can. Fal. Piftol. Pift. He hears with Ears. Eva. The Tevil and his Tam; what Phrafe is this, he hears with Ear? Why, it is Affectations. Fal. Pistol, did you pick Mr. Slender's Purfe? Slen. Ay, by thefe Gloves did he, or I would I might ne ver come in mine own great Chamber again elfe, of feven Groats |